Islam
In some countries of the Middle East, political Islam has become a major political force. This is good news as it can help the region's growth. The Muslim Brotherhood, once the largest non-state organization in the region, had hundreds of thousands members and a large mobilizing capacity. It is not easy to predict what the future holds for Middle Eastern countries, given their recent instability.
Faksh contributes to the growing literature on Muslim fundamentalism by analyzing the rise of fundamentalist groups in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Algeria. He considers Islamism to be the most important challenge to the world today.
Christianity
About 10-15 million Middle East Christians are indigenous to the region, the majority of them living in the Arab World. These Christians are being threatened by religious radicalism. There has been a decline in the number of Christians in some countries like Lebanon since the late 1970s. These changes can be attributed to lower birth rates, increased immigration, and wars.
Although Christians made up 12.7% in the area's population in 1900 they now make up only a fifth. They are expected to make up 3% of the population by 2050. This will make the Muslim population the majority of the region.
Mandaeism
Mandaeism, a religion that people in Iran and Iraq practice, is called the Islamic Mandaeism. It is a Gnostic religion, with a dualistic outlook. Its followers worship the prophets Adam, Seth, and reject Abraham. They believe Adam and his descendants are the sons of God. Mandaeans also believe in the existence of two worlds, one of light and the other of darkness.
The Mandaean people have suffered from persecution for thousands of years. They are a minority group in an Islamic society and have long been treated as second class citizens. They are sometimes recognized for their skills, crafts, knowledge of science, and medicine, but they are frequently treated like infidels. Because of this, they are often targets for attacks, rape and looting.
Maronite religion
The Maronite religion in the Middle East is a religion with roots in Syria and Lebanon. The monastic tradition and the history that Maronite religion has been retreating into mountains have influenced its ideals. Some of its early believers were hermits such St. Maron (who lived in the mountains near Antioch). His fame spread throughout the region. Many of his followers became hermits. These people became Maronite Christians when they built monasteries.
In addition, the Maronite Church has embraced the traditional tradition of preparing an offering before mass. The preparation table is usually located right next to the main altar. It is the first part of the preparation process. During this time, the priest will make a confession before the altar and pray for his spiritual support.
Sunni Shiite Islam
Sunnis and Shiites differ in many aspects, including their beliefs regarding the Mahdi, or the end-times leader who will bring justice and peace to all of humanity. Shiites wait for this event, while Sunni Muslims look at it in a broader context. Many Sunni Muslims have claimed to be the Mahdi, including the Sudanese ruler Muhammad Mahdi (1844-1885), and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of India and Pakistan.
The consensus view is that the conflict is within Islam. Rivalry has existed since the death the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. It seems that the conflict is best explained using the notion of ancient tribal hatreds. But such a view is not able to account for the diversity within the Middle East's Muslim communities.